College Football 150th Anniversary Reveals Logo

Irving, Texas (Feb. 8, 2018) – Fresh off national signing day and the excitement surrounding it, the look of the College Football 150th Anniversary celebration is ready with the release of the campaign logo. In addition, CFB150 has announced a partnership with The Marketing Arm to assist with all facets of the upcoming anniversary.

“We are excited to announce the next steps for the 150th Anniversary in 2019,” CFB150 Executive Director Kevin Weiberg noted. “We are proud to debut a logo that provides a unique way for all stakeholders to celebrate our great game. And by partnering with The Marketing Arm, we will be able to benefit from their nationally-respected experience in this space to help us execute a first-class celebration.”

It is just 326 days before the calendar turns to the anniversary year and a celebration at all levels of college football begins – with close to 800 schools expected to utilize the logo around their programs. The first college football game was played on November 6, 1869 – between Princeton University and Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. The national anniversary celebration will include a commemoration of the historic first game.

SME, a New York-based sports branding agency, was engaged to design a new logo that celebrates the Anniversary with input from college football stakeholder groups.

“The opportunity to honor such a storied sport required an uplifting design reflective of a forward-looking celebration, said Ed O’Hara, Chief Creative Officer of SME. “It had to be clean and iconic, while fully scalable and flexible enough to be adopted by institutions wishing to express their profound college football stories. Reflected in the mark’s final aesthetic, it is envisioned that this logo will serve as a point of pride around the country.”

The final design is a dynamic composition of forward-moving typography forged out of platinum to represent the significance of the occasion. A football graphic incorporated into the “bowl” of the number “5” highlights the significance of 150.

The Marketing Arm, a nationally recognized brand engagement agency, will assist with the creation of an integrated marketing campaign for the Anniversary. Across college sports, The Marketing Arm manages and consults with over 150 properties, including teams, conferences, bowls and the College Football Hall Of Fame. The agency also works with over 100 brand clients, including AT&T, State Farm, Frito-Lay, Goodyear, Nissan and Wendy’s, executing over 10,000 brand events yearly, including staffs on over 100 college campuses year-round.

“The Marketing Arm couldn’t be more excited to take part in College Football’s 150th Anniversary,” stated Michelle Palmer, President, Sports and Experiential at The Marketing Arm. “College Football is truly part of Americana – and will continue to unite fans, build communities, provide educational opportunities, and instill leadership qualities within young people across this country for many decades to come. We look forward to igniting conversations, engaging passions, and delivering unforgettable experiences in 2019.”

All logos and other brand identification are available for immediate use when referencing the 2019 season and the College Football 150th Anniversary. An extensive brand standards guide will be available and additional uses outlined as the anniversary season approaches.